Hope Holds Your Hand

There was a time when I saw the visible signs of Hope change the atmosphere in a room. We had felt the fingers of fear and death- grip the door frame and try to come in, but HOPE walked in and slammed the fingers in the door.

The atmosphere was gripped with fear because the doctor who brought the fear into the room offered no hope when my sister, Wanda was on the brink of leaving this life and her baby girl was not even a year old….(And I didn’t care much for that doctor at all) This was many years ago.

With the hope we received that day from the prayers we prayed, the words of encouragement that came from the mouth of her pediatrician (the doctor with hope), they made a game plan. God brought renewed strength, and death was ushered unceremoniously out of the room. Even though the LORD called her home a few years later, I believe with all my heart that trusting in and seeking God’s timing is where I get my hope.

We have since come to look for HOPE in every circumstance and we try to keep fear locked out. In all situations of our lives. We have been “stationed” in a waiting zone–waiting for the Bolivian Consulate to process our documents so that we can be on our way. But today, that all changed.

There was a frenzy of activity in the kazillion days prior to this one. I’ve been getting “over” a cold and just being exhausted for a few days and the LORD had me resting. I told Jeff this morning it had been days since I had written in my prayer journal and this was something I didn’t like. At. All.

There are many things–unknown things going on in the country we are headed right now–but this ONE thing we KNOW: We have HOPE in Christ. It’s what started this journey all those years ago. I have wondered many times why God couldn’t have called us when we were younger and had more energy and stamina. Why wait until we are both gray haired and at the age most people our age are getting their retirement affairs in order. Ours are far from “in order”.

When I think of retirement, my mind actually has nowhere to go. Serving the LORD in whatever capacity He provides is where our hearts lie. It’s the niche where we are challenged, changed and actually comfortable–in the quandaries of it all. No, I don’t like unknowns. I like to know what is going to happen next–but in our case–and in YOUR case, unknowns are the threads that hold the tapestry together.

I think, if we had the answers, and had the energy and strength, we would begin to think “we could do it in our own power”. We can do nothing in our own power.

Today is a BIG day. We are ON OUR WAY…We’ve waited for it, wondered about it, and to be quite honest, there was a time or two the enemy just out and out told me it wouldn’t happen.

Of course he lies.

What things are you seeing in your near or even distant future that you have all but given up on coming to pass? Care to get them out?

If God spoke to you an assignment, get it back out, dust it off and get ready to follow Him. Don’t doubt (yes, it happens, but you don’t have to stay in doubt). Renew your promise and passion. Ask the LORD to reignite your heart and eyes to see and believe.

Ask Him to restore HOPE.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 hcsb